Hopedale Unitarian Parish
Bylaws Revised June 10, 2007
The name of the Parish is The Hopedale Unitarian
Parish, herein called the church”.
Article II. Purpose
Celebrating life, The Hopedale Unitarian Parish, rich in liberal
religious heritage and tradition, unites as a caring community:
• To create an atmosphere of tolerance
in order to worship freely as we individually and communally experience the divine.
• To nurture one
another and especially our children through education concerning spiritual and moral growth, all revelations of God, and the teachings
of Jesus, and to inspire the full potential of all.
• To welcome the community with love and friendship,
dignity and respect without condition or prejudice,
• To pursue peace with justice, uphold principles
of democracy, support the needy, and honor the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Article III. Denominational Affiliation
The
Church shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Clara Barton District.
Article IV. Membership
Section
1. New Members
Any person 16 years of age or older who is in sympathy with the purpose of this church and who wishes to become a member
may do so by speaking with the minister and signing the membership book.
Section 2. Categories of Membership
a) Members: Those who have satisfied the criteria in Article IV, Section 1, and have demonstrated interest in the church within the last
2 years by attendance, financial contribution and general participation in church activities.
b) Associate
Members: All others in the wider church community. An Associate Member shall enjoy all member privileges except that of voting and
UU World magazine, which is paid for by active member dues.
Section 3. Changes in Membership
a) Any member
may request a change to Associate Membership by notifying the Clerk in writing.
b) Any member that for two fiscal years
has demonstrated no interest by attendance, financial support or participation in church activities may be placed on the Associate
Membership list by review of the Church Administrator with the assistance of the Minister, Treasurer, and Membership Committee.
c) Any member who has not responded to communication from the Clerk relative to the change in membership outlined in Section 3, (b) will
be dropped from membership.
d) Anyone who wishes to reinstate his or her membership may do so by writing to the Clerk.
Section
4. Becoming a Member
Any person whose name is signed on the Church Register of The Hopedale Unitarian Parish on the date these by-laws
are adopted will be considered a Member/Associate Member of the church without formality.
Section 5. Dissolution of Membership
Any
person may dissolve their membership at any time by notifying the Clerk in writing.
Article V. Officers
Section 1. Enumeration
The
Officers of the Church shall be:
* Parish Board including Clerk/Moderator
* Treasurer or Co-Treasurers
* Comptroller
* Collector
Section 2. Election of Officers
All such officers shall be members of the Church and shall be chosen as follows:
a) By members of the Church at the Annual Meeting.
b) In the event of vacancy between Annual meetings, any such vacancy shall
be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term at the next meeting of the Parish Board by majority vote of its members.
Section
3. Term of Office
a) Each officer shall hold office for an initial term of 3 years.
b) Each officer may be re-elected
for one additional successive term of up to 3 years and will notify the committee as of January 1st as to their intentions to stay
on.
c) These outlined terms are goals but flexibility on length of term is allowed to encourage fluid transition of leadership.
d) Any officer may resign by giving written notice to the Parish Board.
Section 4. Parish Board
a) The Parish Board shall
consist of 7 members including the Clerk/Moderator.
This number is flexible to meet the needs of transition and to encourage continuity
of leadership.
b) Responsibilities: The Parish Board is the governing body of the church that is responsible for the overall
functioning of the church. The Board:
· Helps to nurture and promote the agreed
upon church mission and goals in the best interest of the congregation and commits to offer strong leadership based on the Unitarian
Universalist principles.
· Oversees, maintains and ensures the church bylaw compliance.
· Coordinates and supports all other committees of the church in the spirit that promotes them to fulfill their committee descriptor.
· Helps to make the decisions regarding church operation, policy and business. This includes vision, strategizing and management of
the tasks necessary to fulfill that vision.
· Assists in planning and maintaining the
church budget, working with the Finance/Investment committee.
· Hires and supervises
the church staff with the exception of the minister.
· Is present at the annual meeting,
making a presentation in relation to the custody and care of all properties of the church.
· Attends to the prosecution and defense of legal proceedings by or against the church.
c.) Quorum: A majority of members of the
Parish Board shall constitute a quorum.
d.) The Parish Board shall meet with all committees to ensure they understand their committee’s
purpose and responsibilities as outlined in the Description of Committees booklet.
Article VI Committees
Section 1. Enumeration
The
committees of the church shall be:
· Religious Education
· Building and Grounds
· Finance/Investment
· Ministerial Advisory
· Music
· Visiting
· Nominating
· Membership
· Fundraising
· Historical
· Partnership
· Garden
· Worship
· Caring Connection
· Social
Action
· Kitchen
· Scholarship
Section
2. Election of Committees
Members of committees (except Parish Board.
see Article V, section 4) shall be elected at the Annual Meeting each year and shall hold office until the next Annual meeting.
Section
3. Religious Education Committee
The Religious Education Committee shall be responsible for the Religious Education Programs of the
church.
Section 4. Building and Grounds
The Building and Grounds Committee shall be responsible for planning and supervising the
care, repair, replacement and improvement of the real and personal property of the church.
Section 5. Finance/Investment Committee
The
Finance/Investment Committee shall be responsible for handling the investments of the church, working with the Parish Board to prepare
the annual budget, working with the Treasurer (Co-Treasurers) to prepare periodic financial reports and organizing and supervising
the
Section 6. Ministerial Advisory Committee
When a new minister is called, the Ministerial Advisory
Committee shall be formed and consist of at least 3 members of the Search Committee, plus two or more additional members. The Ministerial
Advisory Committee shall act as a liaison between the minister and the congregation from this point forward until the time when a
new ministerial search is required. After the first year, the committee can be made up of any 3 members of the church elected at the
Annual Meeting.
Section 7. Music Committee
The Music Committee shall consist of the Organist/Choir Director, up to two members
from the choir and up to two members from the congregation working with the minister as consultants. The committee shall be responsible
for the musical program of the church.
Section 8. Visiting Committee
The Visiting Committee shall work with the minister to attend
to the pastoral needs of the church.
Section 9. Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for placing
in nomination at the Annual Meeting, persons to serve as Officers or members of the committees of the church. The Nominating Committee
shall be appointed by the Parish Board.
Section 10. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for working
with the minister on efforts to attract and welcome new members to the church.
Section 11. Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising
Committee shall be responsible for planning and supervising all activities to raise funds for the betterment of the church.
Section
12. Historical Committee
The Historical Committee shall be responsible for the history, tradition and artifacts of the church. This
committee shall be consulted regarding historical and traditional changes of the church. The chairman of the committee shall be called
the Church Historian,
Section 13. Partnership Committee
The Church Partnership Committee shall be responsible for overseeing all
interaction and events with our sister church in
Section 14. Garden Committee
The Garden Committee shall
be responsible for the
Section 15. Worship Committee
The Worship Committee plans and creates worship services to supplement those of the minister.
It provides guest speakers and involves members of the congregation. It supports the minister in matters pertaining to worship services.
Section
16. Caring Connection
The Caring Connection shall be responsible
for coordinating requests for assistance from church members in need.
Section 17. Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee shall be responsible for presenting issues and developing projects in regards to local, national, and
international environmental and social injustice.
Section 18. Kitchen Committee
The Kitchen Committee shall be responsible for providing a fellowship hour following the weekly service. This should include
providing the food and the cleaning of the kitchen.
Section 19. Scholarship Committee
The Scholarship Committee shall be responsible for meeting once in the spring if there are applicants for the scholarship, then meeting
for interviews with each applicant. This scholarship is funded by a portion of the Nancy Gannett Memorial Fund.
Section 20. Descriptions
A Description of Committees booklet will be available in the church office with a more detailed description of each committee’s purpose
and responsibilities outlined.
Article VII. Minister
Section 1. Calling of Minister
The Minister shall be called, upon recommendation
of the Ministerial Search Committee, by 4/5 votes of the members of the Church present at any meeting legally called for that purpose.
Section
2. Dismissal
The Minister may be dismissed by a majority vote of Church members present at any meeting legally called for that purpose.
40% of the Church members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Duties
It shall be the duty of the minister to perform such functions
as ordinarily pertain to the Office of the Minister in congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association as described by the
Guidelines and Code of Professional Ethics of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association. These functions usually include,
but are not limited to, the following: conducting services of worship, preaching and teaching, counseling and visiting, administrating,
participating in denominational affairs, development and education. He or She shall be an ex-officio member of and professional advisor
to the Parish Board and to all committees and other activities of the Congregation and shall regularly attend and have the privilege
of the floor at all meetings of those bodies.
Article VIII Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of
the Church shall be held on such date in June, as the Parish Board shall determine.
Section 2. Special Meetings
Special meetings
of the Church may be called by written request to the Parish Board of 5 or more members stating the matters on which they desire the
Church to act. The Parish Board shall call such a meeting for a day not more than 30 days after the date the written request was received
Section
3. Warrants
All meetings, both Annual and Special, shall be called by a warrant of the Parish Board. The warrant shall state the place
and time of the meeting and the matters to be acted on. Notice of each meeting shall be given by posting a copy of the warrant in
conspicuous place in the Church at least 8 days prior to the date of the meeting, In event of a Special Meeting, notice shall be mailed
to all members of the Church, not less than 14 days prior to said meeting.
Section 4. Voting
Each member of the Church shall be
entitled to one vote at all Annual and Special Meetings. A member may vote by proxy by designating this proxy vote in writing, signing
the proxy vote filing it with the Clerk at or before the meeting,
Section 5. Quorum
A quorum at any Annual or Special Meeting
shall consist of 20% of the membership except in the case of calling a dismissal of a minister amending the by-laws or sale of any
Church property in excess of $10,000.
Article IX. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin July 1st and end on June 30th,
Article
X. Sale of Church Property
Sale of Church property in excess of $10000 shall require a 2/3 vote of members present at a Special
Meeting called for that purpose. 40% shall constitute a quorum.
Article Xl. Amendments
These by-laws maybe amended at any
Annual Meeting or Special Meeting of the Church by 213 votes of those members present at the meeting. 40% shall constitute a quorum
and notification of the proposed amendments shall be included in the meeting.